The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-08-11

aud Nv the end of June all the colored regi-
ments Al the Department had disappeared
from the scene, and officers and men sepa-
rated never 10 be reunited.
ANECDOTES.
With The eiieryescent and emotional ma
fure OF the race, the cOlored soldier gave am
pie opportunity for study of character.
Childike IN many OF his ways. and trusting
as he naturally did in those whom he, In
many cases believed directly commissioned
bg Divine authority 20 care for his hitherto
oppressed race, he turned naturally TO his
officers ion guidance In everything and all
SORTS OF questions were asked, particularly
as 10 the probable future Of the race, and
what opportunities would be offered for the
requirement 81 homes and schools
AZ a general thing the colored soldier
seemed t0 care little about the ballot, but
place which he could call his own, where he
could gather about him, perhaps, the long
separated members of his family, and the
abMiiy to read, were the things most talked
about and earnestly longed for. As soon as
discharged many Of my company started in
business for themselves ~ renters" or il they
had been taught a trade in the ante-bellum
DAYS af 0nre sought locations and set about
earning living. Some, who had lost All
home AND KINDRED TIES,
entered the Regular Army as soon as colored
regiments were authorized in 10, and, AS before,
made good soldiers. The world could have
been safely challenged 20 produce finer mate
rial for food for powder" than could have
been selected from among the l4gh, 10th and
Gath CO0red ~ the close OF the war OF many
OF those who served under his command the
writer has kept trace, and almost 10 man They
have done we'll.
At the time Of our mnster-out many engaged
with planters who wanted hands for cotton
fields la Alabama and Mississippi, but the ar
rampemrnt did not work well. The white man
bad MOI yet learned to appreciate the change in
the stnation-the negro had. Attempts 10
enforce discipline by the lash met instant and
determined resistance and when in one in-
Stance the employer limited at resort to the
bullet he was told TO go ahead; they had spent
three n, ats learning Go do just that thing and
IL would be his last shot" Officers who had
given the situation any thought had no fears
for the condHct of the discharged soldier. We
had taken many Of them, as members Of vic
0rnus h0dics 81 troops. back 20 the neighb0r-
hoods where they had lived and
no CASE OF REVENGE
for former ill treatment had ever been re-
ported While ramped ON large plantation in
Northern Alabama Ia 1864. one Of my best Ser
peunis came to me and, saluting respectfully,
said
'-Capian, do you sec that tree2" pointing
MT the same time 10 an oak near the slave
quarters, four years ago they tied me up 10
that and gave me hundred iashes"
Ful Whnt3"
"iCausa they said / was getting TO --
smart and be reminded me Of the scars / had
seen Cd bis lack at the time he was stripped
f0r examination IA his enlistment.
Yet though surrounded by hundreds OF his
la + a. Ef a. a. A -.
ing, ihsA soldier not 0ny did moi raise revenge
fui hand or use the torch Of the incendiary,
but actually went on duty as Sergeant OF a
guard detailed for protection o. the property Of
the man who bad ordered him foeeed, and
PERFORMED HIS DUTY WELL.
But with his ready laughter, and his sense Of
the ridiculous fully developed. the comic side
OF lie was well appreciated by the colored sol
dieE, and his vii MAS often too keen 10 be
pleasant 10 the party AT the butt OF it," On
one occasion, soon after ~ organ iZation, ] was
sent on a recruiting expedition up the Cum
beflanl River. The company was the first one
OF thai cumpirXioureTer seen IN that region, and
of course all the colarea population fOcked 10
the roadside 10 see ID PASS. In front Of one
farmhouse score or more Of All shades and
ages lined the fence. and one small individual,
who could not have been more than seven years
OF age, seemed alb eyes with them dilated 10
pass. fla WIS noticed by one Of the file closers
with the exclamation: " Jes' look at DEM
moons while another less given 10 astronOmi-
CA observations, called nut
I" at daf, iitlie one: vino put al dat chalk
reun' y0 eyei" sally greeted with roars OF
lRughter.
Mention has been made OF the association
II The "a Ohio III. A. with the llth Colored
during lhe pursuit o Mheelers command la
AngHat 1854 aud their
DISLIKE or THE cOLORED TROOPS.
)f course this feeling was soon known 70 the
lljrrIs 0f ID, and wien the opportunity az
Or1ed they were not slow 10 fetaiiate in their
way A tired Heavy" would be passed.
sitting HI c0nsolaicly by the roadside, wiping
The beady drops from his heated face, and be-
come at unce 4 target.
''Mha d. mattah, Heavy Played outf
Been eatln' loo muchf Glib me yo' rations; Pll
t0te 'enl.'
[" H dar. Heavy. played out totin' dat little
gun! An you goin' do when 20 done GIT
big uns2"
Toanolher vino footsore and nearly ready to
drop. stall tries 10 keep up with his regiment,
bui Jagged enough 10 get in the way Of the
leading Tiles ni his tormentors:
Come, hurry up. Heavy Deres a caEn-
hef ahdsd foil o roAstin' yeahs, an desc yere
nigeahs powerful hnnEry. III 20 sInt dar
rlgll soon. yo' won't git no suppah." And the
Foiicy 1i profanity in reply would call forth
rOarz Of laughter aud another caustic hit"
During the proper season rOastin' yeabs y
Furnished d staple part Of the rations while on
campaign. The men divided into messcA >
Of four each. On going into camp the mess
stacked arms In the same stack, aud each wenl
about
his sHARE or THE WORK.
One brought rails and started Gre. Number
two got water. while three and four started
cut tofsging. AZ soon a. they came In some o.
Che corn in the husk or "shnclxp wa,
thrown on the fire 10 roast while the re
mander was carefully hnsked aud placed In ;
mess-pan 10 boil, and by the time the bacon
epificd On a ramrOd, had broiied the first corr
would b. roasted aud the meal begun. 20 be con
tinpcd as long ar the corn held out Their
WA no regulation allowance Of that article
bot ii WHs said That while d soldier could witt
impunity cat ~ ears, the 18th might disagree
with him, while Ia would
SURELY MAXI HIM SICK.
The feeling regarding freedom was thu
illustrated: "A goOd-natured scufle Ia the CON
pany street resulted in one OF the parties hnd
1nF himself iiat ON bis tack bis victor sitiin
aEtride his body. hher enduring the positiol
moment be acknowledged defeat and aske
for Release. BE wAs told ID banterinE tone
cay Please, Iaasa' bat refused The orde
wAt repeated. W 40 this iime all had gone o
good RatuIediy, but on the second denIEnd "a
features nt tAc prpstratc nlRn instantly l0s
their pleasant expression. and be hissed ou
through passion drawn lips.
- wont. fili die fusi 4 v,out eav rnanaa N